1720-07-01-.11
Sanctions
Cite as Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1720-07-01-.11
(1)
Disciplinary sanctions are primarily intended to educate students and student organizations
about appropriate behavior, encourage students and student organizations to take
responsibility for misconduct, promote the personal and professional development of students,
discourage other students and student organizations from violating the Standards of Conduct,
and protect members of the University community. The sanctions imposed should be
appropriate for the particular case based on the gravity of the offense (including without
limitation how the violation affected or reasonably could have affected other members of the
University community). Consideration may also be given to the student’s or student
organization’s conduct record; the student’s or student organization’s responsiveness to the
conduct process; whether the student acted in self-defense, and, if so, whether the amount of
force used was reasonable under the circumstances; student academic classification; and
other aggravating or mitigating factors.
(2)
The following sanctions may be imposed on any student found to have violated the Standards
of Conduct:
(a)
Warning. A warning is a notice that the student has violated the Standards of Conduct,
that the misconduct must cease and/or not reoccur, and that further misconduct will likely
result in the imposition of more serious sanctions.
(b)
Loss of Privilege. Specified student privileges are lost or restricted. Such privileges
include, without limitation, representing the University in any official manner, the use of
or access to University-controlled property, University parking privileges, or participation
in University-affiliated activities (e.g., extracurricular activities).
(c)
Educational Activities. Educational activities are designed to educate the student about
why certain conduct was inappropriate. Examples of such activities include, without
limitation, offering a formal apology (in writing and/or in person); attending an educational
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class, training, or workshop; giving or attending a presentation; preparing and submitting
a research project or paper on a designated topic; or offering a written reflection
responding to a prompt given by OSC. The student may be held responsible for the
payment of reasonable expenses relating to the educational activity.
(d)
Restitution. Restitution may be required in situations that involve destruction, damage,
or loss of property, or unreimbursed medical expenses resulting from physical injury.
Restitution may take the form of a monetary payment or appropriate service to repair or
otherwise compensate for the destruction, damage, or loss.
(e)
Disciplinary Probation. Disciplinary probation is imposed for a specified designated
period of time during which the student may continue to be enrolled but must
demonstrate conduct that conforms to the Standards of Conduct. Conditions may be
placed on the student’s continued enrollment. A student may be placed on disciplinary
probation for moderate misconduct or in the case of repeated minor misconduct. Also, a
student allowed to re-enroll following a suspension will be placed on disciplinary
probation. Subsequent violations of the Standards of Conduct during a period of
disciplinary probation may result in more serious sanctions such as suspension or
expulsion from the University.
(f)
Suspension. A suspension is an official separation of a student from the University for a
specific designated period of time and/or until certain conditions are met. A suspension
may be imposed for serious misconduct. Suspension may include conditions that must
be satisfied prior to a student being allowed to re-enroll and/or conditions that will be in
place if the student is allowed to re-enroll. The effective date of a suspension may be
imposed retroactively to the date that the misconduct occurred. While suspended, the
student loses all University rights and privileges (e.g., enrollment privileges), shall not
represent the University in any official manner, and shall not be present on University-
controlled property without the prior approval of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student
Affairs. The student may be required to meet with an assigned University staff member
periodically while suspended to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress
regarding the developmental sanctions issued. The Associate Vice Chancellor of Student
Affairs will determine whether the student is eligible for consideration for re-enrollment
by the University’s admissions office(s). Prior to reenrollment, the student must satisfy
the terms and conditions of all sanction(s) that are required to be completed prior to re-
enrollment. Students who are permitted to return to the University following a period of
suspension will automatically be placed on disciplinary probation for a designated period
of time, which is designed to facilitate a smooth transition back to the University
community. A student on post-suspension disciplinary probation must abide by the
Standards of Conduct and all terms and conditions placed on the student’s re-enrollment.
(g)
Expulsion. Expulsion is a sanction that permanently bars a person from re-enrolling as a
student at the University. This sanction generally is imposed when the student’s
misconduct is deemed so serious as to warrant total and permanent disassociation from
the University community without the possibility of re-enrollment; and/or when, by the
student’s repeated misconduct, a student has exhibited a blatant disregard for the health,
safety, or welfare of other members of the University community or the University’s right
to establish rules of conduct. A person who has been expelled shall not be present on
University-controlled property without the prior approval of the Associate Vice Chancellor
of Student Affairs.
(h)
Revocation of Degree. The sanction of the revocation of a degree may be imposed if a
student has obtained a degree at least in part through cheating, plagiarism, other
academic dishonesty, or through research misconduct. Revocation of a degree shall be
approved by the Chancellor before the revocation is effective. If approved by the
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Chancellor, this sanction will be noted on the student’s academic transcript on a
permanent basis
(3)
A disciplinary hold may be placed on a student’s account until the completion of the student
disciplinary process and/or until the student satisfies the terms and conditions of any sanctions
imposed. A student who, at the time of commencement, is subject to a continuing disciplinary
sanction or an unresolved disciplinary charge shall not be awarded a degree before the
conclusion of all sanctions and/or resolution of all disciplinary charges.
(4)
In addition to the sanctions in Section .11(2), the following sanctions may be imposed on a
student organization found to have violated the Standards of Conduct:
(a)
Social Probation. Social probation prohibits a student organization from sponsoring or
participating in specified social activities. While on social probation, a student
organization may not host social events or participate in University-affiliated activities.
Any exceptions to social probation must be approved, in advance, by the Associate Vice
Chancellor of Student Affairs or his/her designee.
(b)
Disciplinary Probation. Disciplinary probation means that a student organization is
permitted to retain University registration on a probationary status. Violation of the
Standards of Conduct during the period of disciplinary probation may result in more
serious sanctions, including revocation of University registration.
(c)
Revocation or Suspension of University Registration. In cases of serious or repeated
misconduct, a student organization’s University registration may be suspended or
revoked.
(5)
More than one (1) of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation of the
Standards of Conduct.
(6)
Voluntary intoxication or impairment because of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or other substances
does not diminish or excuse a violation of the Standards of Conduct.
(7)
Except for interim restrictions, disciplinary sanctions shall not become effective until after
opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. Sanctions may be applied retroactively to the
date of the offense. Coursework performed while disciplinary charges are pending or
disciplinary proceedings are underway shall be considered conditional. Coursework may be
affected or disregarded based on a final finding of misconduct or the sanction imposed, which
may result in loss of course credit, a loss of tuition and/or fees, a delay in the awarding of a
degree, or revocation of a degree that was awarded prior to a final decision in the disciplinary
proceeding.
(8)
Parental Notifications. If a student accepts responsibility or is found responsible for violating a
Standard of Conduct involving drugs or alcohol, and that student is under twenty-one (21) years
of age, OSC shall inform the parent or legal guardian of that student of the violation, as required
by state law. Typically, OSC fulfills the parental notification requirement by mailing written
notification to the parent or legal guardian’s address listed with the Office of the University
Registrar. OSC may also notify parents or legal guardians through other means when
necessary or appropriate. Parental notification is not considered a disciplinary sanction.